WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2107, 24 November 1880, Page 3

WESLEYAN DISTRICT MEETING.

The meeting was resumed on Tuesday in the Durham street schoolroom, at 9.30 a.m. The usual devotional services were held. Tha Bev. J. H. Simmonds (Ximaru) and Bev. J. J. Lewie (Waimate) took their seats. The prescribed questions respecting ministers were proposed, and to the following negative answers given:—Have any ministers died? Are any recommended to conference for superannuation ? Do any supernumeraries request to bo re-employed in full ministerial work ? Are any ministers to be received into full connexion ? Are any received on trial ? Are there any candidates for the ? Are any new stations to bo occupied? Are there any objections to moral character, ministerial efficiency, and orthodoxy of any of the ministers ? Do any ministers offer for foreign mission work ? To the following questions, affirmative answers were given Have the conference appointments been observed ? Have the registers of baptisms and marriages in the several circuits been carefully kept ? Bespecting the deeds of church property, the Bev- J. S. Eishworth enquired if a list of the deeds of the district had been kept.

The Chairman replied in the affirmative. The Bev. J. S. Smalley drew to the extension of trusts under the “ Religious and Charitable Trusts Act.” Legal opinion had been that such extensions were valueless. Bev. W. Worker had obtained a similar expression of legal opinion. It was agreed that the question should be brought before the meeting when the laymen are present to-morrow. The Bev. A. Reid referred_ to the desirability there was of an inspection of deeds by the district meeting, as was the practice in the Wellington district. He moved,that the Chairman, having expressed his willingness to produce the deeds in his possession on Thursday, the inspection of them be proceeded with on that day. The motion was seconded by the Bev. J. Armitage, and carried. Under the question of “ What can bo done for the promotion of the work of God in this district ?” a conversation ensued on the relation of communicants to the Church, and the lack of interest evident on the part of many adherents in the privileges of Church membership. The Bev. A, Eeid would like some definite information as to basis upon which returns of communicants were made. Hitherto he had only been able to make an approximate return. As to the giving of tickets to communicants, he had found an indisposition to ask for them, and he had never felt at liberty to take them to those who set so little value upon them that they did not even care to ask for them. He knew it was the practice of some ministers to take tickets to communicants, but he for one could not do this. The Rev. J. Armitage felt it to be one of the humiliations of the ministry that ministers, in too many instances, had to carry tickets to both communicants and members who were unwilling to attend the usual meetings at which they wore dispensed. The Bev. J. S. Smalley called attention to the fact that, for the present year, communicants' tickets had not been provided. Hitherto he had always given them, and had rot observed any disinclination to receive them. The Chairman considered this a most serious matter. The same difficult question of 1 return of members was occupying the atten-

tion of both the Anglican and tho Presbyterian Churches. He could not but deplore that in their own church, no less than in others, many were making it too evident that they held ohnreh membership too by not meeting the most elementary requirement implied in expressing a wish for possessing a memorial of membership in the Church of Christ. The Eav. W. Keall’s experience had convinced him that while many were willing to enjoy all the privileges of fellowship supplied by their Church, they were not desirous of accepting Church recognition in the usual form of membership. The Eev. J. J. Lewis pointed out that the Minutes of Conference provided for the recognition of communicants of all devout persons whom superintendents of circuits judged to possess the requisite spiritual qualifications. In this, he thought, there should always be a margin of liberty left to the minister. The Eev. J. H. Sitnmonde was not sur-

prised at the little value set by communicants upon their tickets. He, for one, regarded them as totally unnecessary, because the personal knowledge by the minister of those who sought to communicate was a more sufficient criterion by which to judge of their fitness than any other which could be supplied. Besides, there were many persons who might not be ready to declare freely their religious feelings, of whose spiritual qualifications for membership there could not be the slightest doubt. He would move—“ That all devout persons who support our institutions, and who regularly attend the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, be enrolled and returned as communicants, and that henceforth it be not considered necessary to give communicants tickets,” The Bev. J. Armitage seconded the motion. The Bev. J. J, Lewis moved as an amendment—“ That the column for communicants having failed to answer its purpose, be discontinued.” He differed wholly from the mover of the motion respecting the giving of communicants tickets. This necessity was recognised by all secular societies, and ought to bo felt to be much more binding, he thought, upon all who desired fellowship with God’s people. The Bev. W. Keall seconded the amendment.

A lengthy conversation took place, in which most of the members of the meeting took part. On being put to the vote, both the motion and the amendment were lost.

The following ministers signified their intention of attending the conference, which meets in Nelson Jan. 21st:—Bov. A. Beid, J. S. Bishworth, J. S. Smalley, J. H. Simmonds, W. Worker, and J. Armitage. After the transaction of other business the following notices of motion, being recommendations from the various circuits, were banded in Ashburton Circuit—“ That a grant of £IOO be made to this circuit for next year. That the ministerial term of residence in each circuit be extended from three to five years. That the minister’s removal expenses become a charge upon the contingent fund, in order that the circuit appointment may be determined apart from pecuniary consideration.” Christchurch (Durham street) —“ That the constitution of the quarterly meeting be so altered as to admit of a fair proportion of its members being elected by the members of the Church. That while Conference shall still have the power to appoint each minister to a circuit year by year, the three years’ limitation shall no longer exist.” Leeston—“ That the children’s and educational fund be abolished.” Timaru—"That the Conference take into consideration the desirability of augmenting the membership of the quarterly meeting by election from the congregation. That the ministerial term of residence in a circuit be lengthened.” The meeting adjourned at 6 p.m,, to meet at 9.30 a.m. this day.